Enough, It Wasn't as Though We Had Never Embraced

You Su's sword tip suddenly hovered in mid-air. He lowered his eyes, staring at the trajectory of the trembling blade, a flash of understanding crossing his eyes:

"Mistress, the sword manual says 'Yin and Yang embrace each other, like vines entwining a tree,' but I don't think that's quite right."

He Shutong had seen him drawing his sword and gesturing, and the female immortal couldn't help but ask with concern:

"What's wrong?"

"It's not wrong, it's just... not good enough."

You Su nodded slightly, took a step forward, and got extremely close to the woman, their chests almost touching.

Although He Shutong was slightly surprised and embarrassed, she did not back down, knowing that the young man must have had a purpose in doing so.

"Mistress, the first move after practicing the Mandarin Duck Sword together is called 'Moonlit Neck Embrace.' So all the sword techniques before that are actually preparation for the final 'Entwined Necks' move? Is that correct?"

Master He Shutong, a master of Swordsmanship, quickly nodded in agreement, indicating his approval.

"But as I understand it, when swords are locked in a deadly struggle Vines and Tree Each Yield Three Inches."

The young man's words were astonishing; he actually dared to raise objections to a Swordsmanship that had been passed down for thousands of years. Such courage truly surprised He Shutong.

But what bothered the woman even more than her astonishment was that the boy was so close to her, she could even smell their hot breaths, yet they were just a hair's breadth apart.

She was already used to embracing You Su and didn't dislike his simple hugs, even though... she knew he was the real person. So even if You Su hugged her now, she wouldn't push him away; she would just ask him what was wrong.

But he insisted on stopping there. This tiny distance, though so close, possessed a strange magic that stirred up a complex mix of emotions within her, including unease and anticipation. It was as if a feather were gently tickling her heartstrings, making her feel itchy. Several times, she even had the urge to simply pull him into her arms...

"Why do you think that?" He Shutong still couldn't bring herself to do it. She still couldn't understand why the young man had to get so close to her just to talk about swordsmanship, as if he was deliberately trying to lure her in...

"Like a vine entwining a tree, while beautiful, it diminishes the vine's climbing strength, and the tree's freedom to stretch out." You Su seemed oblivious, merely gazing at the exquisitely beautiful face before him with feigned focus. "If we always cling to each other, our sharpness will be worn down in the entanglement. This is the new understanding I've come to. Just as my master's Mistress's Sword Intent Like Water, and my Sword Intent Like Fire, if we were to merge without restraint, the fire would be extinguished by the water, and the water would be evaporated by the fire."

Looking at the light dancing in his eyes, He Shutong's shy and flustered thoughts were also drawn to the sword principles spoken by the young man:

"So you mean we should have deflected the sword strike a little earlier?"

"That's right, separating by three inches gives each other a breathing space."

As soon as she finished speaking, the boy's embrace followed, his broad body gently pressing against He Shutong's curvaceous figure. As expected, she instinctively did not avoid You Su's embrace.

However He Shutong was still startled, but she felt that all the emptiness in her heart just now disappeared in an instant, and then a secret joy of getting what she wanted arose.

"What's so special about this hug, Mistress?" the young man whispered in her reddened ear, his hand tightening its grip as if he wanted to hold her tighter, but he quickly loosened it, like a child who dared not taste too much sugar, and retreated to a suitable distance.

He Shutong's disappointment at the separation lasted only a moment, because she soon realized that the boy was using this hug to confirm the sword principle he had just spoken.

You Su only asked the question, not expecting the reserved master's Mistress to openly express her feelings during the embrace, so he answered his own question:

"Normally, a gentle embrace with my Mistress makes me feel happy and warm. But that embrace just now made me feel even more content, happier than usual, and my mood became wonderful. Do you feel the same way as my Mistress's wife?"

He spoke frankly, yet with such sincerity that He Shutong felt embarrassed. After all, she maintained a cool and aloof Fairy, He Shutong dared not admit it, but she wouldn't deny it either, so she changed the subject:

How did you come to this realization?

You Su scratched his head and smiled, "Because I couldn't find my Mistress this time, I thought Mistress had left me. But after seeing Mistress again, my joy was even greater than before. I was thinking, is it possible that when close people are separated for a while, it can actually strengthen their bond?"

Without giving He Shutong a chance to answer, You Su continued:

"The same principle applies to swordsmanship. Although the Mandarin Duck Sword are swords for dao companion, I believe that dao companion shouldn't always be like vines entwined around a tree. Separating before the intertwined swords and then reuniting might unleash even greater power. The same applies to fusing sword intents. I shouldn't insist on merging these two sword intents from the very beginning; perhaps that would allow them to merge even better in the end."

He Shutong blushed slightly at the first sentence, secretly lamenting that she herself was no different. But after the second sentence, she nodded repeatedly, seemingly in agreement. Although this was ultimately a young man's conjecture, and even a conjecture based on emotions, she would not take it lightly, because the Mandarin Duck Sword was Swordsmanship born of affection.

Thinking of this, she became even more certain that the boy had not deceived her. His explanation of sword principles was reasonable and well-founded, and that his distraction just now was genuinely due to his contemplation of sword principles, rather than him indulging in the thrill of crossing the line as she had imagined.

This made her feel even more ashamed. The boy attributed all the good things to her, and even their parting became the reason for his enlightenment of swordsmanship, as if she were the best person in the world in his eyes. But she knew that she was not as good as he thought, so she made up her mind that no matter how shy she was, she would help the boy comprehend the method of merging sword intent.

"Try again." The female immortal suddenly ran her fingers along the Wooden Sword, and frost patterns snaked from the hilt to the tip. "Before we meet, let us separate by two steps, and then reunite using the momentum from the Quze Point."

In the blink of an eye, He Shutong had already figured out how to exert force when drawing his sword.

Fortunately, You Su was also exceptionally talented, and he understood without He Shutong having to explain in detail.

He Shutong felt a warm glow in her heart at this unspoken understanding, and even felt a sense of relief, thinking that it was fortunate that she was the one training with You Su, so that she could help him.

The moment the two swords clashed, the accumulated snow was shaken off the branches.

A snow-white sword flashed across the old tree in the courtyard, and fallen petals rustled into You Su's tousled hair. He Shutong's wide sleeves billowed like a white crane spreading its wings, and when the frost-colored sword tassel swept across the back of the young man's hand, it brought a warm, tingling sensation in the cold wind.

"His Qi Flows Through Celestial Spring."

Her cool voice slid into his ear, You Su could clearly feel his Mistress's amazing curves rolling over his back with her spinning movements.

His Adam's apple bobbed, clearly indicating that his Mistress was even more uninhibited than during their last training session. During the last training session, he had been distracted by this ambiguous experience and almost disappointed his Mistress, but fortunately, he had a flash of inspiration and suddenly realized something, thus averting a dangerous situation.

This experience was much more intimate, making it impossible not to be captivated by the three pleasures of color, fragrance, and touch. You Su felt that even when his junior sister practiced with him, they couldn't achieve such intimacy.

But this also made the young man feel even more guilty. His Mistress had done so much for him, and if he were to only indulge in fantasies, he would truly be betraying Mistress kindness.

Having made up his mind, You Su suddenly came to his senses and thrust his sword upwards.

Her black hair intertwined with the Sword Qi, and the clear lotus fragrance emanating from He Shutong's hair mingled with the warmth rising from her skin, weaving an invisible net.

Suddenly, he felt a warm, soft touch against his lower back—it was his Mistress correcting his sword technique, using her knees to brace against his lower back and exert force.

She noticed his brief moment of distraction, but she seemed not to think much of it and immediately told You Su to keep up with her.

You Su was deeply moved and almost lost his sword technique again, He Shutong instead placed her soft hand on the back of his hand that was holding the sword. Where their palms touched, the lines on the sword hilt revealed their fingerprints, and the way her fingertips guided the sword's movement was like plucking the strings of a zither in the young man's heart.

Soon, they were close to the closing gesture of 'Moonlit Neck Embrace'.

The two immediately separated using each other's strength. Although they were practicing Swordsmanship, You Su felt a real sense of loss because of this brief separation, and thus longed even more for the next moment when they would join forces.

Little did they know that the seemingly ethereal Fairy who was guiding the young man felt no less disappointed and expectant than You Su.

Amidst the whistling sound of a frost-covered blade cutting through the air, You Su suddenly felt a dampness brush against his neck. It turned out that his Mistress, in coordination with the 'Moonlit Neck Embrace' diving sword technique, had her crimson lips barely brush against his throbbing veins.

The white mist exhaled, carrying the fragrance of lotus, seeped into his collar, sending a shiver down his spine. He Shutong hairpin had come loose at some point, and her long, black hair, like splashes of ink, brushed against his taut forearm.

"Now is the time!"

They were thinking the same thing at the same time.

The two swords hummed loudly, and although it was said to be 'Moonlit Neck Embrace,' in reality, it was not only people but also swords that were intertwined.

The two Wooden Sword drew intersecting arcs of light in mid-air—not intertwined, but like two cranes entwining their necks, responding to each other at the most appropriate distance.

The sword tip pointed, its powerful energy stretching far and wide, stirring up a patch of snow on the back mountain.

This sword technique, passed down for thousands of years, was executed without the use of any Mystic Qi by either of them; they simply swung their swords. Yet, at this moment, because they infused it with genuine emotion, it unleashed astonishing power.

As dawn broke and snowflakes swirled, the two swords clashed, casting lingering shadows on the snow-covered ground.

As You Su felt the continuous warmth emanating from her temples, he realized that he had truly touched the softness hidden beneath her aloof exterior. To him, she was never an unattainable sword immortal, but a fellow cultivator with whom he shared a deep understanding, dao companion with whom he was willing to lay down all his defenses and dance with the sword's heart...

Only He Shutong- like neck turned pink did she gently break free. The young man suddenly realized that he had unconsciously embraced his Mistress, and had been embracing her for a long time.

"Indeed, according to your suggestion, this 'Neck Moonlit Neck Embrace' is even more exquisite than described in the book. The founder of the Mandarin Duck Sword probably never imagined that he would have such a brilliant successor."

He Shutong smiled gently, without the shyness she had shown during their earlier embrace; instead, her eyes were filled with satisfaction and appreciation. She suddenly reached out and brushed the snow off You Su's shoulder.

You Su wanted to do the same for her, but ultimately didn't dare. The sense of loss in her heart seemed even stronger than before.

"Without my Mistress's help, I couldn't have done it alone..."

Looking at his slightly lowered eyelashes, He Shutong felt a sudden pang of pain in her heart.

He should have been overjoyed that his vision had come true, so why did he seem somewhat disappointed?

Just now, their swords combined perfectly, the two of them seemingly a flawless match. But once the practice was over, he had to keep his distance and call me "Mistress" again...

Was he sad because of this sense of loss?

"The Mandarin Duck Sword is essentially a two-person sword technique; of course you can't do it alone." He Shutong withdrew her jade hand and smiled gently, then shook the snow off the sword. "But you're still far from being able to do it right now. This time, try incorporating the flow of Mystic Qi. We'll proceed step by step until finally, when I use the Lotus Birth Sword Intent to cooperate with you. Only then can we truly say that you've done it."

The female immortal, holding a sword, saw him off and invited him to continue his practice.

You Su was slightly lost in thought, then a surge of immense joy welled up in his heart. He had thought that today's sword practice would end there, but he hadn't expected that his Mistress would also be so eager to continue.

He couldn't help but sigh inwardly, wondering where in the world he could find such a gentle woman who would understand his every disappointment and tolerate his every act of greed.

After practicing swordsmanship for two days, the night was as dark as ink, and the icicles on the eaves reflected the starlight.

You Su lay supine on the couch, his fingertips, calloused from sword wounds, unconsciously caressing the brocade quilt, his gaze following the flickering candlelight on the white gauze screen.

As He Shutong pushed open the door carrying the jade medicine bowl, she saw the young man hurriedly pulling his half-open robe tighter. His frosty skirt swept across the threshold, and she pretended not to see the exposed abdominal muscles.

"Mistress..." You Su's apple bobbed, the scent of medicine mingling with the crisp lotus fragrance in her hair, making his ears burn. "Actually, I'm fine..."

"It's better to be okay than to have something happen."

The moment her jade-like fingers dipped in the emerald ointment were applied to their waists and abdomens, both of them trembled.

The icy ointment melted upon contact with heat, seeping into the meridians along the skin's texture, yet He Shutong felt as if her palms were being roasted on lava.

She felt as if she had lost her mind; how could the person in her dream be suffering from exhaustion? But seeing the young man's earnestness in practicing swordsmanship these past two days, she couldn't help but want to do something for him, which is why she brought this bottle of nourishing ointment tonight.

You Su gazed at her lowered eyelashes casting butterfly-like shadows beneath her eyes, then suddenly reached out and grasped her frosty-colored wide sleeve. "Mistress's wife, do you think... I have made any progress these past two days?"

"You were naturally gifted, but you lacked finesse. Now that you can control your sword intent at will, you have certainly made progress." He Shutong subtly withdrew her sleeve.

You Su pursed his lips, then asked cautiously, "Since this disciple has made progress in his training, Mistress... is there any reward?"

Suddenly, the window curtain was lifted by the night wind, and in the flickering candlelight, she saw the undisguised expectation on the young man's handsome face.

In the past, I always forced him to be my reward. Tonight, it seems... this is the first time he's asked me for a reward on his own initiative?

The female immortal instinctively felt that the reward the young man wanted wouldn't be simple. But her words of advice lingered on her lips for a moment before finally settling into a soft sigh, "Since you're working so hard, what reward do you want?"

You Su sat up abruptly, the medicine bowl rattling and rippling. His throat tightened, and his gaze swept over the woman's exquisitely beautiful face before quickly looking away.

"Disciple... disciple has been overworking lately, and... disciple feels that the accumulated yang energy has become poisonous..."

"You..."

"I didn't mean to hide it!" You Su hurriedly pulled the quilt over her shoulder, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. "After yesterday's joint practice, I felt my Qi surging. I tried to regulate my breathing on my own... but I just couldn't calm down..."

He Shutong turned to leave, but her ample waist prevented her from leaving the stool. The aloof female swordswoman was filled with shame; she should have known it would turn out this way. Why had she still come under the guise of carrying the ointment...?

Isn't this just... burying one's head in the sand?

She knew perfectly well that the boy's feelings for her were impure, yet she still rewarded his hard work in sword practice with such an intimate gesture as personally applying medicine, as if... she was deliberately catering to the boy's presumptuous desires.

In the outside world, the master-disciple relationship still exists, but in her dreams, they have already crossed that line. How could she bear to refuse the young man's first request for a reward?

A frosty shawl brushed against the boy's taut back, He Shutong's fingertips condensed into Pure Qi.

You Su let out a muffled groan, the hot breath escaping from his throat making He Shutong's fingertips tremble.

From Xuanji to Shenque, You Su felt flames rising from every vital acupoint.

He Shutong turned her face away, her captivatingly beautiful face framed by the warm glow of the candlelight.

"Calm your mind and focus your attention."

But when the Yin Qi she had quietly injected was devoured by the Yang Fire for the fifth time, she finally noticed something was wrong.

"Mistress..." You Su suddenly grasped her hand as she tried to pull away, his palm burning hot like a branding iron. "Is this... useless?"

He Shutong gave a soft "hmm," then blushed and said, "Your yang energy is becoming increasingly unruly; even I find it difficult to guide it."

"I was too nervous..."

The boy murmured self-reproach, but when the Fairy looked at him, she saw a more intense longing dancing in his eyes.

"How... how do you plan to alleviate this?" He Shutong regretted her words as soon as they left her mouth. She shouldn't have asked him that!

"My Mistress treats me extremely well, which makes me even more afraid of Mistress leaving. The thought of that scene always breaks my heart. I'm so scared, so... I want to hold my Mistress..."

Before she finished speaking, the Fairy's fair face was already flushed crimson, like cinnabar splashed on snow.

He Shutong knew that the boy's ambition was growing, and if she continued to indulge him, what would become of him in the future?

But the boy's heartfelt confession about his fear of her leaving touched her deeply, making her unable to utter a single word of refusal.

Anyway... it was a dream...

The body in her arms had grown up, its muscles and lines like a sword sheath sculpted by a master craftsman, yet its posture overlapped with that of the sick, curled-up blind child from years ago. She finally sighed and opened her arms, her frosty sleeves like crane wings, to embrace the boy once more.

The boy buried his burning cheeks in her arms, only then realizing that her waist was even more slender than he had imagined. You Su wished this beautiful dream would never end, yet she also hoped it would come true soon; her voice, muffled with happiness, seemed to be squeezed out from the clouds.

"Mistress, you're so kind..."